BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — With summer on the wane, artists are heralding the beginning of the new arts "season," which runs roughly together with the school year. The first wave starts Thursday with two events and hits its stride Friday through Sunday. Here is the breakdown:

Thursday, Sept. 4, 5-9 p.m. Birmingham Art Crawl. Organizers expect 2,500 to attend each first Thursday of the month. The event supports more than 30 artists, set up in the historic downtown loft and business districts.

Thursday, 5-9 p.m. First Thursday, Birmingham Museum of Art. Connecting to Japanese themes, check out the Samurai exhibition, "Lethal Beauty" and experience the arts of "sakura" painting, the ancient "Way of the Bow," a screening of "Kill Bill," Vol. 1, tapas and cocktails and more.

Friday, 5:30-8 p.m.; Saturday 1-5 p.m. New York artist Steve Lambert will be at Space One Eleven to spark public opinion and meaningful dialogue in "Public Forum." Stop by and express yourself during Artwalk.